Possible bumps in the road for Sherborn Library project

Thursday

Aug 11, 2016 at 12:01 AM

At the July 27 Sherborn Board of Selectmen meeting, the Sherborn Library Expansion project sparked discussions about town hall campus parking, a potential second access to the campus and the details of the updated project plans, which were the focus of the initial agenda item.

By Sarah Freedman, dover-sherborn@wickedlocal.com

At the July 27 Sherborn Board of Selectmen meeting, the Sherborn Library Expansion project sparked discussions about town hall campus parking, a potential second access to the campus and the details of the updated project plans, which were the focus of the initial agenda item.

Ultimately, the selectmen did vote to authorize the library to shared use of the town hall campus areas identified in the plan for the project, but an involved conversation took place about many aspects of it.

Mary Moore, chairperson of the library trustees, presented the plans, which featured a utility area off the police station parking area with a new generator that would service a 21,000-gallon fire suppression tank and air conditioner suppression units as well as a possible expanded stormwater basin below the station.

The goal, she said, was to create the least amount of disruption to the campus. And, with a plan in place, she added that they could look at the logistics involved with accomplishing it.

Moore said, “I think the overall plan is in good shape.”

She said the enclosed generator will be natural gas, and Vice Chairman Paul DeRensis noted the possibility of having evergreens around it for security and aesthetics.

She noted that the plans call for 8-foot tall wooden slat fencing, but she could bring his suggestion to the Library Building Committee.

Selectman Charlie Yon inquired why it was not adjacent to the building, and Selectman Sean Killeen responded that there is not a good place to put it near the building as it would be on the wrong side to provide power. Killeen also noted the site utilities are too compact there to allow a generator closer.

Moore added, “There’s really not much else you can do from a building standpoint.”

Town Collector Nancy Hess asked about the septic system, specifically the digestion tank making the potential of another access to the campus area impossible.

Moore said the idea was to create a centralized area for utilities such as the septic system and did not believe its location precluded any future work in the area.

Chairman Michael Giaimo asked whether they could provide a rough sketch of where a back entrance to Sawin Street could go.

Moore said there was potential to use earmarked money for an access road in the project, and DeRensis added that the idea of having access to the campus via Sawin Street has been discussed for many years.

He clarified that there is a road currently being used by police personnel on campus, but not by the public.

Hess brought up the fact that in the past, designs for the area have proposed coming in where the pump may be located. Giaimo added the question they have to ask is whether someone could design an access point to work with past design ideas for the area.

Susan Tyler of the Traffic Safety Committee said the access and parking plan they have liked is to make it a direct shot through coming from Route 16 with everything in a “one-way flow” with parallel parking.

Giaimo said if the library’s plans do not coordinate with the aforementioned design, they need to “figure what would work.”

He raised the issue of having a logistics plan in terms of access for the construction of the project and what space would be needed for the contractors. Moore said before the current plans they were not sure what “the logistics plan needed to look like.”

Noting that they have talked to Police Chief Richard Thompson on the subject, she added, “Now we’re closer to knowing what a logistics plan might look like.”

She said she would be happy to support the idea of having an access road and attending more meetings to figure out a solution if necessary.

The selectmen’s comments were two-fold in scope as Killeen said the concern was where temporary parking for construction vehicles would be, and Yon added that the other issue was having a permanent second access road.

There was discussion between Hess and Killeen about the concern about parking during construction and details regarding the possibility of an access and how it could be done.

Hess said the town needs to know how the contractors are going to be able to park their vehicles during construction. As the access road in question has not been built yet, Killeen said he supported “letting the library project be the library project” in addition to fixing any parking issues on the campus.

Selectman Mark Brandon said whether residents would want a second access road would be a Town Meeting question and suggested the board could move to support the plans and then return with a logistics plan at a later date.

Giaimo noted, “I like that idea. I would say that we’re not looking for the library to engineer a road.”

His concern was to consider the long-term scope so as to not “nail a door shut that we didn’t need to nail shut.” Giaimo wanted the flexibility of having an access road during construction.

Hess believed the issue of additional parking for the campus needed to be addressed and aesthetics should be part of the discussion.

She asked that town committees have input on the plan as they have “spent a great deal of time” talking about town hall campus parking and access.

Town Administrator David Williams said he would continue to work with Community Maintenance and Development Director Ed Wagner on a plan until something was put on paper and presented at a selectmen’s meeting.